About the sector

The Community Service Sector in WA

Community service organisations themselves can include group providing generalist services and those working in service specific areas such as aged care, mental health and disability.

WACOSS defines a community or 'social service' as those providing one or more of the following service types:Health,Community Services & Development,Disability,Employment & Training,Aged & Community CareFamily, Children & Youth Services,Drug & Alcohol,Mental Health,Aboriginal,Culturally & Linguistically Diverse, Justice,Housing, Generalist Welfare, Advocacy, Women

Sector Demographics and Data

It is difficult to get a breakdown of the exact number, size and scope
of organisations that make up the not for profit community service
sector and more particularly WA specific data.

It is
estimated that the number of organisation in WA that fall within this
definition is between 550 and 600. This number may be as high as 650 if
we include organisations with more than one site or branch.

The total community service sectors workforce across six areas identified below is estimated to be 41,000.

ABS 2011 - Community Services

Non-Indigenous

Indigenous

Not stated

totals

Male

Female

Male

Female

Male

Female

Residential Care Services, nfp

7

54

0

3

0

3

67

Aged Care Residential Services

1,968

14,082

16

117

13

117

16,313

Other Residential Care Services

748

2,005

15

71

6

7

2,852

Social Assistance Services, nfp

455

1,572

50

82

10

20

2,189

Child Care Services

263

7,304

8

122

3

47

7,747

Other Social Assistance Services

2,788

8,647

138

276

17

54

11,920

Total

6,229

33,664

227

671

49

248

41,088

Our focus is on the learning and development needs
of the people working in the community sector including
board members, executive, middle management, administrative and
front line staff. The diversity and skill level within this target
group is as diverse as the sector itself, ranging in age,
qualifications, experience and skill set. The following provides some
demographic data on this group:

Predominately female accounting for almost 80% of the workforce ( ABS Data. 2009-10).

Average age 35- 55

Those
holding supervisory roles or middle management positions are most
likely to be promoted into these roles and rely on, on-the-job training
to support the development of these skills

There is an increase in the cultural diversity of the workforce, particularly in frontline or direct care roles

Board members do so predominantly as volunteers

Community Sector boards are more likely to be made up of people with a common interest rather than specific skill set

Due
to the nature of the work undertaken the single biggest resource of the
community sector is its workforce. It is estimated that around 80% of
funding is allocated to staff.